Political Quotes

“Mainstream Americans must march to the polls this November to express themselves forcefully to stop extremists financed by undisclosed contributors from stifling our democracy. The Congress is gridlocked, leaving the Nation's business floundering. Fringe candidates with highly questionable competency are winning primary elections. Moderates and some conservatives are falling because they fail the test of ideological purity. In the past 10 years, both parties have taken advantage of procedural rules-gimmicks to thwart needed congressional action. During the administration of President George W. Bush, Democrats mounted so many filibusters against judicial nominations that the Senate was on the verge of changing an important rule requiring 60 votes to cut off debate. During the Obama administration, Republicans have exceeded the prior extremism of Democrats on filibusters. In addition, the leaders of both parties have abused procedural rules to stop Senators from offering important, germane amendments to pending legislation in a Chamber where the tradition had allowed any Senator to offer virtually any amendment on any bill to get a vote to focus public attention on important national issues. The partisanship has reached such a high level and comity such a low level that there is not even the pretense of negotiation or compromise in almost all situations.”